CTCF-mediated chromatin looping in EGR2 regulation and SUZ12 recruitment critical for peripheral myelination and repair

Nat Commun. 2020 Aug 17;11(1):4133. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17955-2.

Abstract

Chromatin organization is critical for cell growth, differentiation, and disease development, however, its functions in peripheral myelination and myelin repair remain elusive. In this report, we demonstrate that the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), a crucial chromatin organizer, is essential for Schwann cell myelination and myelin regeneration after nerve injury. Inhibition of CTCF or its deletion blocks Schwann cell differentiation at the pro-myelinating stage, whereas overexpression of CTCF promotes the myelination program. We find that CTCF establishes chromatin interaction loops between enhancer and promoter regulatory elements and promotes expression of a key pro-myelinogenic factor EGR2. In addition, CTCF interacts with SUZ12, a component of polycomb-repressive-complex 2 (PRC2), to repress the transcriptional program associated with negative regulation of Schwann cell maturation. Together, our findings reveal a dual role of CTCF-dependent chromatin organization in promoting myelinogenic programs and recruiting chromatin-repressive complexes to block Schwann cell differentiation inhibitors to control peripheral myelination and repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CCCTC-Binding Factor / genetics
  • CCCTC-Binding Factor / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Early Growth Response Protein 2 / genetics
  • Early Growth Response Protein 2 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Myelin Sheath / genetics
  • Myelin Sheath / metabolism*
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / genetics
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Schwann Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • CCCTC-Binding Factor
  • Chromatin
  • Early Growth Response Protein 2
  • Suz12 protein, mouse
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2